MWATABU OKANTAH & MARY WEEMS

Mwabatu Okantah and Dr.Mary Weems will read at Mac's on Saturday, February 9th at 7 p.m.

Professor Okantah is an Assistant Professor and Poet-in-Residence in the Department of Pan-African Studies at Kent State University Press. He also serves as Director of the Center of Pan-African Culture.

He has published several collections of poetry including Reconnecting Memories: Dreams NoLonger Deferred (2004), published by Africa World Press. His new book is Muntu Kuntu Energy: New andSelected Poems.

A highly recognized poet and motivational speaker, Prof. Okantah has appeared in various locations throughout the USA and West Africa. As a performer, he has worked in a variety of musical situations, including time as Griot for the Iroko African Drum & Dance Society and in an ongoing collaboration with the Cavani String Quartet. Currently, he is the leader of the Muntu Kuntu Energy Ensemble – a four-piece performance group.

Mary E. Weems, Ph.D. is a poet, playwright, author, performer, and imagination-intellect theorist. Dr. Weems is the author and/or co-editor of several books including Cleveland Poetry Scenes: A Panorama & Anthology (Bottom Dog Press, 2008), Poetry Power (Silvermoon Press, 2003), her educational text Public Education and theImagination-Intellect: I Speak from the Wound in My Mouth (PeterLang, 2003), Working Hard for the Money: America’s Working Poor in Stories, Poems, and Photos (Bottom Dog Press, 2002), and a book of poems An Unmistakable Shade of Red and the Obama Chronicles (Bottom Dog Press, 2008). Her new book, For(e)closure was a finalist for the 2012 Main Street Rag Poetry Contest.